Rabies threatens to wipe out rare Ethiopian wolf
NAIROBI (AFP) – The environmental group, Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF),
warned Thursday that a rabies epidemic is threatening to wipe out a rare
Ethiopian wolf, a statement released in Nairobi said. “A rabies epidemic
in parts of southeastern Ethiopia is threatening the survival of the most
endangered member of the dog family – the Ethiopian wolf,” the statement
said.
“At least 30 Ethiopian wolves have died from rabies since the disease
broke out in Bale Mountains National Park at the end of September,” the
statement added.
The park is home to some 300 wolves, more than half of the total
population of 500 still left in the Horn of Africa nation.
WWF said that since the first death was reported in September,
conservationists have been isolating affected wolves and started a
vaccination programme to try to contain the epidemic.
“Conservationists fear that unless more funds are forthcoming to vaccinate
the wolves, their population will further dwindle,” it said.